Show HN: I made an app that helps you find where to stream movies and TV shows
An indie web app that shows where films and TV series are available to stream worldwide is drawing both praise for its clean, fast interface and criticism over data accuracy. Commenters compare it heavily to JustWatch and similar services, probing how it sources availability information, why results sometimes miss or mislabel titles, and how prominently it pushes NordVPN affiliate links. Many suggest features such as country and provider filters, A–Z listings by service, alerts when a title becomes available, and better support for regional platforms, while others argue that the growing fragmentation of streaming is pushing them back toward piracy tools instead.
Overall reception and use case
- Many commenters find the app fast, clean, and more pleasant than competing sites.
- Core value seen as: showing where content is streamable across countries, useful for travel or VPN use.
- Some users say they will adopt it as a primary search tool; others “don’t see the point” given accuracy issues.
Comparison to existing services
- Frequently compared to JustWatch, PlayPilot, werstreamt.es, Apple TV app, and others.
- Several note JustWatch has become cluttered and ad-heavy, making this app’s minimal UI attractive.
- Others argue JustWatch is more accurate because it works directly with providers and already supports country switching.
Data accuracy and coverage
- Multiple reports of wrong or missing availability:
- Netflix and Prime titles shown where they are not actually available.
- Some shows/movies missing entirely or seasons not distinguished.
- Certain regions (Austria, Norway, New Zealand, niche services like Viki, Neon, TVNZ+, PlutoTV, Acorn, MHz Choice) not well covered.
- Creator acknowledges relying on a third-party (non-official) API and treating reliability as a main area for improvement.
- Another commenter identifies that API as a specific streaming-availability service and notes missing attribution required by its terms.
VPN focus and monetization concerns
- The app prominently promotes NordVPN; many see a clear VPN-affiliate business model.
- Confusion arises when the UI makes it look like content is available in a user’s own country “via VPN” even when it’s natively available or not actually on that service.
- Some accuse the site of being essentially an affiliate funnel and question whether data is biased or simply inaccurate.
Feature requests and UX feedback
- Strong demand for:
- A top-level country selector and GeoIP-based default.
- Filters by subscribed services, language, subtitles, audio, and VPN provider locations.
- A/B country comparisons (e.g., “available in France but not Germany”).
- Alerts when unavailable titles become available.
- “New to streaming” lists, A–Z catalogs by service, better mobile density, direct deep links, persistent search queries, URL-based search.
- Various minor UI issues noted: sorting (e.g., United Kingdom), hover behavior, horizontal overflow bugs.
Piracy and alternative solutions
- Many commenters argue torrents, Stremio (with plugins/Real-Debrid), and Usenet still provide the most convenient, reliable access.
- Discussion of VPN arms race, residential IPs, and legal/ToS gray areas around using VPNs to bypass geo-restrictions.